Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Creative Ideas for Empty Perfume Bottles

Creative Ideas for Empty Perfume Bottles


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After throwing away several perfume bottles I decided to come up with some ways that I could utilize them around my own home. As we all know, some perfume bottles can be plain to very orate. No matter how plain or fancy they are there can be another purpose found for them.
Here are some of my ideas:
Perfume bottles that have a small amount of fragrance left in them make great reed diffusers. Begin by removing the cap of the perfume bottle. Insert your reed diffusers, turning them over once to expose the perfume moistened reed to the air. The perfume will continue to wick up the diffuser reeds, scenting your room for several months. Turn diffuser reeds periodically to refresh scent.
Another use for perfume bottles with a small amount left in them is to once again remove the cap. Tie a fancy ribbon around the neck of the bottle and hang in your closet. Caution needs to be taken that the open bottle cannot be tipped and thus avoiding any spillage on your clothes. Keep in mind which fragrance you use as some perfumes are more powerful than others.

Have you ever searched your house for a small vase for that single rose or those few flowers that you picked from your garden only to find a vase that holds a whole bouquet? Take one of your empty perfume bottles, remove the cap, and thoroughly wash it out with soap. Add water and place your flowers in the bottle and set on any table. You now have a vase for a small bouquet of flowers.
Take several empty bottles and group them together on your vanity, a bookcase or end table. This is where some of the fancier bottles can make attractive display items. No more trips to the knick-knack shops looking for unique items to display. I find that my guests have copied this idea the most.
Remember the days when colored sand with popular? It still is. This is where the clear colored bottles are the best ones to use. Select your favorite colors or to match your rooms décor and fill the bottles with colored sand. Purchase small cork stoppers to prevent the spillage of sand, should the bottle be knocked over.
Hobby stores usually sell small colored plastic or glass beads, small seashells and other such items. These make great items to display in your empty bottles. You can even dress it up further by tying a colored ribbon around the top or when I am really creative I have added lace. The options are endless and make for great conversation pieces.
These ideas that I have shared with you not only have I done for my own enjoyment but have also shared with my family and friends. They are much more appreciative of something homemade and not the typical box store item. I hope this inspires you to get creative with your empty perfume bottles.
Patti Zimmerman, a perfumista, writes articles on her passion for perfume and colognes. At Perfume Aromas, we have a marvelous selection of name brand fragrances at fantastic prices and some come in unique bottles. Check us out today!
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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Design Approaches To Accessorizing The Victorian Decorating Style

Design Approaches To Accessorizing The Victorian Decorating Style


To give your Victorian decorating style a professional decorating approach, you might want to add various decorative items. Focus on using frilly and ornate decorative accessories which add to the fancy and ornate style of the olden days. Plan for wall art, pillows and knick-knacks to really add zip to your Victorian home.

Wall art is a fabulous way to add appealing charm to your walls, but most folks don't know the proper way to hang them. When hanging art, think like a gallery and put the middle of the piece at eye level. If you are hanging a grouping of items on the wall, then come up with the design by laying them on the floor first to come up with how they look most pleasing.
Providing master paintings in gold gilt frames in groups will work well to add an interesting element to the Victorian decorating style.
Another thing you could employ to add charm to your décor is decorative pillows.

You can come up with a use for pillows in every room even the kitchen and bathroom. Adding pillows in the bathroom is one option a lot of folks don't think of but you can quickly place one on the hamper or in shelves or racks with towels. Displaying decorative pillows stacked at the headboard of your bed should lend a great professional look. Pillows are wonderful for those who can't spend a lot because placing them with your existing living room furniture should help give it a Victorian home decorating allure without having to spend money on new furniture. Pillows which have fringe and buttons will help finialize your room design.
Try adding candelabras dripping with prisms, crystal and sterling silver, or roses in vases for more of a feeling of the olden days. Select accessories that mirror a common theme that enhances your room decor. Don't stray to far from your theme or you will end up with a non definitive design approach.
Knick Knacks can really provide an intriguing look to any design, no matter what the design approach. To pull together your Victorian home decorating, think of using accessories with a fancy and ornate allure. For a decorative touch try Hand painted china in a curio cabinet or placing porcelain figurines on display shelves. This is where you can really make the home design your own by acquiring knick knacks which reflect your individual style. If you don't have much cash, you should try shopping at the local flea markets and garage sales where you can find fascinating knick knacks for little money.

Accessorizing your Victorian decorating style with mahogany and marble furniture, and fancy metal accessories can help add charm. You should be sure, however, that you don't go out buying things wily nily or you might end up with a disorganized mess. You will need to be sure your accessories in in the ideal scale to each other so you need to be aware of the sizes of your items when picking them. Select your accessories with care and your interior design is guaranteed to look fantastic!
Lee Dobbins writes for Look 4 Decor - Home Decorating Tips [http://www.look4decor.com] where you can learn more about different decorating styles for your home and find out more about how to get a great look with the Victorian decorating style [http://www.look4decor.com/west28].
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Monday, September 14, 2015

Decorate With Vintage Suitcases

Decorate With Vintage Suitcases

Shabby chic Bedroom by A Beach Cottage 
 Have you started to notice stacks of vintage suitcases popping up in styled magazine shoots and retail window displays? It's a pretty clever way to add whimsy to your home without spending big bucks. Since this decorative idea hasn't hit the mainstream yet the antique dealers haven't snapped them all up yet to gauge prices. Almost any vintage store I have visited recently has many underappreciated suitcases for you to scoop up and turn into an inexpensive side table or interesting display. Better yet, bring out grandpa's old suitcases from the attic and celebrate a traveled life. And can we talk about the hidden storage potential?
And of course, this look is not just for the well heeled and traveled elite. It has the hipster cred as seen in this music room along with a vintage America school map and repurposed flat files.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Hally’s by Alexander Waterworth Interiors

After seeing some of these images circulating on Pinterest and Tumblr I decided to share with you Hally's, a recently opened deli in London, and a project by Alexander Waterworth interiors

An eclectic mix of decorative pieces, reclaimed materials and soft tones create an inviting and homely atmosphere. You can even get some DIY ideas for your own home, like the dip dyed chairs in different pastel shades, or the vintage looking jars for condiments with chalkboard painted labels. And who doesn't love those white washed brick walls with the carefully styled wooden open shelves? It's definitely a place to visit, next time I'm in London (I've already been on Google maps to see where it is located!).





Thursday, May 9, 2013

Off...


I am off today, bound for Paris.. I am looking forward to sharing our adventures with you.  We are so excited to be going and bringing treasures back this time.  Keep your fingers crossed for us in hopes  that we find wonderful things!  

Follow along with me -

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If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Remnants of the Past weekend..



I am excited to say that we have skipped town for the weekend to enjoy a little girl time.  I will be staying in the Central Coast this weekend and attending the Remnants of the Past show.  So excited to see some good friends and hopefully meet some new ones.

Wishing you a wonderful Saturday!

image via
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Monday, October 15, 2012

White, brown and dark green in Malmö

White, brown and dark green in Malmö

Hello! And happy Monday! Here in Southern Sweden it's raining and grey and I have all the lights on BUT I'm feeling bright all the same, because tomorrow is the day of my blog give-away - yay! so exciting! First though, here is a beautiful apartment currently for sale in the area of St Knuts, the bohemian district of Malmö through Bo-laget. I love the original wood flooring, the windows leading into the hallway to lighten the space and of course the original way the owners have furnished it. Another reason why my Monday feels bright!


















Bo-laget spotted via AMM blog

Could you move in here?!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for the give-away! eeeee!

PS Thank you so much for all your 'blog birthday' wishes on Friday, you made me so happy!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

happy...




Busy busy days... I thought I would lighten the mood with some of my favorite things... flowers and vintage papers...  I will be installing again today and hopefully I will have something interesting to show you tomorrow!!

Wishing you a beautiful Wednesday and thanks for stopping by!
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Monday, September 17, 2012

Swedish home with fun vintage finds: Part I

Hej hej! On Saturday I went off on a great flea market road trip around South West Skåne. It's amazing all the fantastic things you can find at bargain prices (and for charity).  The home in today's post, with kind permission from the owner, Johanna from AprillAprill blog and her family, is the perfect example of what you can do with a little upcycling. Since there are so many fab pictures (photographed by Johanna's sister Lisa Wikstrand (blog here) for Retro magazine) Here's part I of a two part series- her daughter's fab bright, fun bedroom.







Photography: Lisa Wikstrand, Stylist/home/owner Johanna Gartmyr, Aprill Aprill.
Isn't it such a perfect bedroom for a little girl?

We were at a friend's house for brunch yesterday (who have the most fantastic converted school out in the countryside but that's another story) and they had exactly the same play castle (lekborg) from Smallroom in their children's playroom. Oh how much would my girls love one of those.

Look out for the rest of Johanna's beautiful Scandinavian retro home in part II tomorrow!

PS How come my home doesn't look like this after Saturday's flea market tour?!!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Lifestyle in grey..


It is always a nice relief to do a little something creative when you get inspired.  These are just a few of the wonderful things I have been seeing out there and they make for a great combination in a sitting area don't you think?

design by christina @ greige

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